Does anyone feel really uncomfortable seeing people in masks?

[Lissy23]

I do.
It feels to be like their ‘faceless’ beings.
I know this sounds really far fetched, but it’s how I feel.

I also find it very unpleasant being unable to see somebody’s facial expression and to know whether they are smiling at me.
I think I’m on the spectrum, possibly aspergers, I’ve been told by various therapists that it’s a possibility.

How will anyone meet a romantic partner if they can’t see their face? Only their eyes? I know eyes are supposed to be the ‘window the soul’ but I can’t bear not seeing somebody’s entire face.

I went to the pharmacy the other day and the pharmacist was wearing a mask, he was talking to me and I didn’t understand him at all. I didn’t think I relied on lip reading, but I obviously do. He said it twice and I didn’t get it, so I just pretended I had

I know this is all for the greater good. But I feel so depressed and anxious by it all, I already suffer with mental health issues.

I am finding it difficult reading books and watching tv programme or films because they make me tearful and remind me of life before all of this ‘new normal’. I’m wondering if I should speak to a doctor. But I have no idea how to word it.
I’ve already had people calling me selfish and childish (friends and family) for being anxious about wearing a face covering.
It isn’t just other people wearing them, I can’t breathe when I have anything covering my nose and mouth and it often induces a panic attack.

[quote Lissy23]@labyrinthloafer I’m not particularly anxious about the virus, but yes I think it’s the changes and all these things happening one after the other and I’m concerned the old normal will never return.[/quote]
for you, it is a tough time for all of us. I think the changes have been really hard to take.

They do make me a bit sad, but not about the people wearing them, just because it was better before we needed them.

@LittleEntrepeneur

It is a bit scary, but so is the threat of COVID-19. We just have to suck it up, I’m afraid. Try not to overthink it, OP.

No the threat is not scary.

It's temporary, with any luck there will be a vaccine and things can go back to normal. But for now it's the responsible thing to do.

@EnlightenedOwl

To be honest when you see people doing the shopping and what not with their masks and visors on I feel sorry for them. Must be awful to be so terrified.

Not terrified. Just careful.

You talk like people are taking unreasonable precautions and making sacrifices. Wearing a mask is not sacrificing much.

I live in NY and we have been wearing them all along (executive order) you soon get used to them. I don’t understand the ridiculous comment of not being able to breathe, it’s more likely that you’ll struggle more to breathe with covid.

@openplankitchen

Not many wear face coverings in my town. The ones that do stand out. I feel sorry for them. Especially when they are almost always wearing them incorrectly.

Why do you feel "sorry" for people wearing masks, when they are doing for YOUR benefit? I wear mine correctly, I don't fiddle with it, I don't assume that my mask means I can lean over people to grab stuff off a shelf. I find this sneering about masks daft.

I hate the removal of lip reading and facial expression plus the extra muffling of speech. They make communicating far, far harder. Screens are awkward enough, but a sensible measure.

Surgical style bother me more than chintzy fabrics. They are incongrous on the streets (especially when accompanied by poor hygiene and fidgeting.

At this point in time, I can't protect you more by putting myself through the discomfort and claustrophobia of covering my face because I haven't been in a situation with any substantial risk of exposure for months. I've had very, very little external company beyond a household off school and WFH. I haven't spent minutes+ in the close company of anyone beyond my household. I've been sensible with social distancing. I have no great desire to be in crowded places anyway.

I find the sneering about masks very silly, too. Some posters on here need to grow up. Not OP. It's normal to find the look of masks disconcerting especially with all the other changes we've been through recently.

Nope, I used to live in Asia.

It's the normal, considerate thing to do

You cannot possibly know if you are incubating or have an asymptomatic case.

I wear one to protect others and the quicker we all do the same, the quicker we can return to a more normal life.

To be honest when you see people driving and what not with their airbags and seat belts on I feel sorry for them. Must be awful to be so terrified

@userxx

Me and my kids wear masks not because we're terrified, but because we don't want to make anyone who is vulnerable ill.

Why, do you all have COVID?

Sorry, I know you probably meant that as a snarky answer, but yes, that’s the point

I work in a school with teenagers who don’t do social distances outside school and always forget in school and come and breathe over my shoulder or lean over my desk in my face.

So yes, I could be asymptomatic or pre-symptomatic at any time. Let me know if you’d like me not to bother protecting people I come into contact with.

Because I stay more than 2m away from everyone where possible, only to get someone shoving past in a supermarket or leaning over me with no mask on.

Frankly I’d feel like a bit of a cunt if I wasn’t bothering to protect people aroid me.

Anyone with the slightest intelligence is not wearing a mask because they're terrified, FFS! They're wearing it to protect YOU, as you should wear one to protect them. I can't believe there are still those who don't know this!

It's not a problem for me. I know they are doing their best to live and enjoy their lives, but clearly making the effort to reduce the spread of this awful virus. We can't go back to how we were otherwise we'll be constantly having waves in different areas

I don't like hearing people talking thru masks on radio. I don't like the muffle.

Do the face covers that hook on the ears make back of your ears sore?

Reading MN gives me impression that at least some mask-wearers are very judgmental and very angry at all of us not wearing masks. So that's an extra reason to try to stay very far away from the wearers.

@EnlightenedOwl

To be honest when you see people doing the shopping and what not with their masks and visors on I feel sorry for them. Must be awful to be so terrified.

You realise they are protecting you by wearing masks not themselves.

Yes, it’s odd and we don’t like it because it blocks communication. They are also most likely completely useless if the virus is airborne as it will pass straight through them (unless they are the N95 medical masks or industrial ones that are not readily available to the public).
I’d rather order everything online than wear a totally pointless mask.

I work in A&E so I wear a mask in shops etc to protect others in case I am asymptomatic. I also like that it might make people who wear them for other reasons feel less self conscious.

I work in A&E so I wear a mask in shops etc to protect others in case I am asymptomatic. I also like that it might make people who wear them for other reasons feel less self conscious.

@laidbacklife I’ve heard a few medical professionals say that they need to be medical grade... do you think unless they are there isn’t really a point?

Laidback life... the virus is droplet spread. Droplets are stopped by any type of mask

I have to put on a mask before I enter my workplace (hospital) and wear it for a 12 hour shift, only removing it for a short meal break and to have a drink. That is the same for every member of staff, whatever their role so its completely normal to me now!

I also think mandatory masks in shops will be announced soon so we will see a lot more people in them

I was on the tube with my 6 year old daughter last week for the first time since lockdown began and we played 'guess the expression'. She guessed correct every time when I smiled under the mask. I think you can always tell from the eyes.

The masks must be medical grade to prevent you catching it but people are wearing normal ones to protect others in case the wearer is asymptomatic. Any face covering is somewhat effective for this. This has always been clear. How are people still not getting it, and sneering about the fact they 'must be terrified'! Completely missing the point.

Not at all, it reassures me.